SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Barry Bonds is finding that the Babe's 714

is a tough mark to match. He's also learning that at age 41 his

defense is a far cry from his Gold Glove days of old.

The San Francisco slugger is still sitting at 713 home runs, one

shy of tying Babe Ruth for second place on the career list after

the Giants' 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night in

which a sellout crowd of 42,885 showed up hoping to witness

history.

Instead, Bonds went 0-for-3 with an intentional walk in his

fourth straight homerless game and blew a play in the outfield,

too.

Manager Felipe Alou planned to sit down with his star player to

discuss several things: Bonds' status for Saturday's day game, why

he didn't run out a popup in the eighth, and what happened in left

field on a miscommunication with center fielder Steve Finley.

"I'm going to talk with him," Alou said, smiling.

It seemed the perfect night to make history, what with the

archrival Dodgers in town after the Giants threw a belated 75th

birthday bash for his godfather, Willie Mays, and also celebrated

Alou's 71st birthday. There was all kinds of atmosphere -- a full

moon appeared off in the distance beyond right field and McCovey

Cove in the early innings.

But Kenny Lofton hit a two-run single in the Dodgers' three-run

third off Matt Morris (2-4) and singled in another run in the fifth

for a season-high three RBI. Nomar Garciaparra had three hits and

drove in a run for the sixth straight game.

Brad Penny pitched five scoreless innings as the Dodgers won for

the sixth time in seven games since a season-long five-game skid.

Penny came out because of stiffness in his back.

"I don't care who hits a home run, Bonds or whoever," said

Penny, who doesn't expect to miss a start because of his back. "I

don't think about that at all. It's his personal stats."

The Giants did get a homer from Pedro Feliz for their only run.

Bonds last homered Sunday night at Philadelphia, hitting a 450-foot

shot to right for his fifth of the season.

The 41-year-old Bonds was intentionally walked in the first,

popped out to shortstop in the third, lined out to right leading

off the sixth and reached in the eighth on a fielder's choice when

second baseman Jeff Kent dropped his popup.

Kent threw to second for a forceout, and the Dodgers nearly

doubled up Bonds, who had turned back toward the dugout before

running to first and barely beating the relay throw.

There was speculation Kent dropped the ball on purpose. He

clashed with Bonds when they were teammates here and even scuffled

in the dugout.

"That's the question of the day," Kent said. "I don't give

away my secrets. I'm the wrong guy to ask."

It was an electric, playoff-like atmosphere for "Orange

Friday" -- and this night thousands of fans sported orange wigs

with a black stripe down the middle. They stood for each Bonds

at-bat, something the crowd didn't always do during the previous

series against the Cubs.

"Pitch to Barry!" one man hollered at Dodgers reliever Joe

Beimel in the sixth.

The left fielder -- a Gold Glover at the position in his prime --

took only a few steps toward left-center on Willy Aybar's RBI

double in the sixth, apparently convinced Finley had it covered

even though it was clearly Bonds' play to make. Bonds had words

with Finley afterward.

"We know he has a lack of range," Alou said. "It didn't lose

the game for us tonight. But we know he lacks range. We know the

reason. He didn't play last year. He's not 100 percent in shape

right now, and he's going to be 42. I don't know many 42-year-olds

who have good range."

Finley said he thought he saw Bonds put up his glove and slowed

up, calling it "an honest mistake."

"I should have gone hard all the way," Finley said.

Bonds is eager to pass Ruth and rid himself of the fanfare that

has surrounded the chase. It has to be a distraction.

"I don't try to think about it," Bonds said recently. "But

that moment I will think about it."

Penny (3-1), who has allowed three homers to Bonds, gave up two

hits, struck out three and walked three for his second straight

victory following a four-start losing streak.

Alou hoped to have Bonds in the starting lineup for Saturday's

day game after the slugger said earlier this week he wanted to play

every game through the weekend. He started Thursday's day game

after a night game against Chicago -- not always his practice in

recent seasons.

"I don't know," Alou said after the game. "I won't write the

lineup early. I'm going to take my time tomorrow."

The Dodgers aren't about to let Bonds beat them. Los Angeles has

allowed the third-most home runs to Bonds of any team with 62,

behind San Diego's 82 and 63 by the Montreal Expos/Washington

Nationals.

Dodgers skipper Grady Little said Los Angeles would be picky

about when to pitch to him.

"We know there's not another Barry Bonds coming up after him,"

Little said.

Penny intentionally walked Bonds with two outs in the first and

Omar Vizquel on second. Fans waved orange and yellow rubber

chickens from all directions.

Morris, in his first season with the Giants following nine with

St. Louis, lost his fourth straight decision. He is winless in six

outings since starting the year with two victories.

Ray Durham returned from the disabled list for the Giants and

went hitless after being sidelined since April 28 with a left

hamstring strain.Game notes
Bonds drew his 16th intentional walk of the season. He

played all nine innings. ... The Dodgers placed 3B Bill Mueller on

the 15-day disabled list with soreness in his right knee and

recalled infielder Oscar Robles from Triple-A Las Vegas.